Meghan's 8th Birthday Party

For Meg's 8th birthday she wanted a big party at home. She choose a cupcake theme. The invitations were cupcakes, we decorated cupcakes, ate cupcakes, played fun games and had a generally SWEET time.




We found this really cute polk-a-dot fabric and made aprons for party favors. And we found these fun little soaps that looked like cupcakes to give out too. I know this may seem a little bit overboard, but I have to say, as much work as those aprons were, it was so worth it. I loved seeing it all come together at the end and seeing the look of pure joy on all of those giggly little faces!









Our family birthday party for Meghan.

Halloween

Here's the kids right before trick-or-treating. Meghan wanted to wear the darling dress-up outfit Amber had made her last year, and she wanted to be a "Neopolitan Fairy" (like the ice-cream.)

When McKenna saw how cute Meghan looked in her get-up, she says, "I want a costume like that! But I want to be a Rainbow Sherbet Fairy!"

So...I ended up calling Amber for some instructions and... walaah! It actually turned out pretty cute. The girls loved the outfits, and had a blast wearing them and explaining what they were. After that, I was just glad Mitch wanted to be Mario, and Mario was a costume that didn't have to be made. :)




Meggie at the ward Halloween Carnival!


"The Neopolitan Fairy sinks another put!"


Hans and little ladybug Claire.


Mario with the mustache.


The kids and their jack-o-lantern creations, a few scary faces, a Frankenstein, and a pirate ship.

Trip to Grandpa Furness

We really love our dear Great Grandpa Furness. He is Melissa's Grandfather. He is 96 years old,(Aunt Mary will have to correct me if I'm off a year:)and lives in Salt Lake City. These were taken during a visit with him in October.

October 10K and Piano Recital

McKenna and Meghan both performed in their annual piano recital in October. This was Meghan's first recital. She did great! They both did. These were taken right before the recital began.




I ran a 10K race in October with a few friends. It was a lot of fun. Now I want to try a half marathon. I'm still having back and hip issues though, so we'll see what happens when I finish physical therapy. Hopefully, I'll be fully recovered and ready to go!

BYU vs. OU

Hans and I went to BYU's season opener vs. Oklahoma over labor day weekend with R2H. It was such a fun trip. The game itself was incredible! Beating #3 team in the country and holding them to only 13 points was awesome!


Hans parents, his brother Bob and wife, Jennifer, Hans & I during the game.



The newly built Dallas Cowboy Stadium was where the game was held. What an over-the-top facility! The big screen t.v. hanging over the field is 7 stories high and 160 feet wide. It's the largest H.D. screen in the world. It was hard to watch the game on the field. I kept wanting to look up and watch it on the screen, because I could see everything so well- even the sweat dropping off of the players faces.






Final Score!


Celebrating on the field! When the game was almost over, the announcers kept saying "Please no one on the field, please stay in your seats!" We were good little cougars (who don't even "cut corners") so...altough it took a lot of self-control, we restrained ourselves and didn't rush the field. :)


This says it all.


This is all of us the day before the game during a tour of the stadium.


We ditched our group during our tour to get this quick shot on the field. Shhh don't tell on us!


Hans & Melissa in Cowboy's Locker room


We even made some new "true blue" friends there, Beverly and James Endicott. They live in Lindon nearby, so we'll be able to see them from time to time.


The hotel we stayed at was something else, the Gaylord Texan. It has an indoor mall with several small shops, several restaurants, a spa, gym, pools, etc. all inside of an atrium. As the saying goes, "Everything's bigger in Texas"! This is a shot taken from our 8th floor balcony window looking into the atrium--pretty cool.


This is a shot of a miniature train set in the atrium, Mitch would've gone nuts seeing this!


These next three shots are of the Riverwalk Cafe in the hotel atrium. We ate here several times. It was so relaxing and beautiful.







Melissa in the hall leading to the lobby.


Hans chillin' with a local. (inside the atrium)
All in all we had a great memorable trip! GO COUGARS!

Las Vegas Trip

We finally took a little family trip and accompanied Hans when he was working in Vegas one week. We had a great time! The kids and I hung out by the pool while Hans worked in the mornings and after Claire's nap in the afternoon we'd go out as a family.



Claire loved just chillin' or should I say cookin' on my lap. It was 115 degrees while we were there.

One night we went down to the strip and did what has become a family traditon. We checked out what was new at the Belagio lobby. They have an indoor garden there that is amazing! Then we watched the water fountain show out front. The kids loved it! (Okay, so I don't have a pic. of it. I need to get it off Hans' phone first.)



Me and the kids at the hotel.


Hans and Claire Bear.


Our van had transmission trouble between Vegas and St. George, so....we extended our trip for a day and stayed the night in St. George while our van got worked on! Our kids had never been to St. George or seen the St. George temple, so we had to drive by and get some pictures. Isn't it beautiful?!

Harvest Time

We finally got a garden in this Spring, and now that summer is almost over the kids have been so excited to see the fruits of their labors, or should we say the "vegetables" of their labors.